---
title: Namechange
x-toc-enable: true
...

Table of Content {#pagetop}
================

-   [United Kingdom](#uk)
-   [New Zealand](#nz)
-   **TODO: add information about all other countries here**

United States {#us}
=============

See:
<http://www.transequality.org/documents/state/maine>

This has information about how to change your legal name/ID, across various
parts of USA.

South Carolina
--------------

<https://web.archive.org/web/20210212011352/https://www.scequality.org/public/files/docs/SCNameChangePacket-small.pdf>

Name Change info: [here](https://av.trans.chat/common/docs.zip)

United Kingdom {#uk}
==============

*This is for UK \*citizens\* only.* If you're resident in the UK, but
not a citizen, you still have to go through your own government in the
countr\[y/ies\] in which you are a citizen of. See:
<https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship/citizenship>

Go to any decent solicitor and arrange to have your legal name changed
via *deed poll*. You can also use this to get your legal title changed
(E.g. Mr. to Ms., or Ms. to Mr., etc).

You don't have to get a lawyer to do it, you can do it yourself too.
This page has a guide for it: <http://bikkit.co.uk/deedpoll.html>

**If you do it correctly as per that guide (if you're doing it yourself
without a solicitor) and the deed poll gets rejected, note that this is
\*discrimination\* according to the Equality Act 2010. Your deed poll is
equally valid whether you write it yourself or get it from a
solicitor.**

It's cheap, and anyone (even cis people) can do it, with little or no
scrutiny. You then contact e.g. bank, utility providers, landlord /
mortgage provider, etc to get your name/gender changed in their records.

See: <https://www.gov.uk/change-name-deed-poll/overview>

Getting a new passport (with gender marker changed)
---------------------------------------------------

The UK government has guidelines:
<https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/applying-for-a-passport-information-for-transgender-and-transsexual-customers>.

This can also be used to get a new passport, in your new name, with your
gender marker changed.

You should present as your desired gender, in your new passport photo;
basically, you should look in that photo like you think you're going to look
the next time you need your passport (e.g. verifying your ID when you register
a bank account, or go travelling, etc). So if you're a trans woman, present as
a woman in the new passport photo. If you're a trans man, present as a man in
the new passport photo. NOTE: non-binary people are not legally recognized in
the UK; passports are only issued with M or F gender markers on them. This is
a current issue in the UK, which ought to change (E.g. X gender marker on
passports).

You can find photo booths (for taking passports) in or around most supermarkets
or in shopping centres. These photo booths are often intended for the purpose
of passport photos, and photos for other official ID in the UK.

**You need doctors authorization to change your gender marker on your
passport.** This does not have to be at a gender clinic. You can just
ask your GP to write a letter for you, and give you the letter,
confirming that you are transitioning. NOTE (non-binary people): you can
only change your passport to say either Male or Female. The UK does not
legally recognise non-binary people at present, unfortunately.

Going through your GP is the fastest route, if you're on a waiting list
(private or NHS, since both usually have waiting lists) for trans care.

Get your doctor (e.g. GP) to write something like this (substitute
man/woman as necessary):

**The letter from the doctor should say your \*NEW\* name, not your old
one. So for instance, if you're a trans man and your new name is Gary
Metcalfe, then the letter should say Mr. Gary Metcalfe on it, when
referring to you. If you're a trans woman and you're new name is
Annika Greer, the letter should refer to you as Ms/Mrs Annika Greer.**
(non-binary people are not legally recognised in the UK, and passports
can only say male/female on them. This is something that we as a
community need to campaign to change)

*United Kingdom Passport Agency,\
London Passport Office,\
Globe House,\
89 Eccleston Square,\
London,\
SW1V 1PN\
\
Subject: Mr/Ms/Mrs \[Your First Name\] \[any middle names\] \[Your
Surname\]\
\
To whom it may concern,\
\
The above named is a trans man/woman (female-to-male/male-to-female) who
\[wishes to receive health services related to gender reassignment and
is making strides to do so / is receiving private gender reassignment
health services via \[clinic\] since \[date\]/ is receiving NHS gender
reassignment services since \[date\]\].\
\
I can confirm that Mr/Ms/Mrs \[Your Surname\] has made an official name
change via deed poll process and has been living successfully in the
male/female role.\
\
In my opinion the patient is stable and permanent in his/her chosen
gender role and I would be grateful if you would issue a male/female
passport to him/her in accordance with this.\
\
Yours sincerely,\
\[Doctors Name AND SIGNATURE Goes Here\]*

Gender recognition certificate
------------------------------

Deed poll only changes your legal name/gender *currently in use*, but it
does not alter your birth certificate. It also does not alter your death
certificate (if you die, your death will be recorded according to your
birth certificate). If you go to prison, quite often they will send you
to the *wrong prison*.

In 2004, the UK government started allowing transgender people to update
their birth certificate, by letting them acquire what's known as a
*gender recognition certificate*.

To get this, you must first complete the *deed poll* process, and you
need to live full-time in your desired gender for *at least 2 years*,
with proof that you have done so (name on mortgage/rent, utility bills,
etc, and/or testimony from others). You usually also need an approval
letter from your gender clinic, whether NHS or private.

See: <https://www.gov.uk/apply-gender-recognition-certificate/overview>.

New Zealand {#nz}
===========

New Zealand grants citizens the right to change their name/gender on
passports and other documents. They also allow for *X* gender to be
specified, in the case of non-binary trans people.

See:
<https://www.passports.govt.nz/what-you-need-to-renew-or-apply-for-a-passport/information/>

Under the Births, Deaths and Marriages and Relationships Registration
Act 1995, you can also change your name/gender on your birth record. If
you're a child, your parents and/or guardians can apply to the *New
Zealand Family Court*. Adults can change their details themselves.

See:
<http://www.dia.govt.nz/diawebsite.nsf/wpg_URL/Services-Births-Deaths-and-Marriages-Information-for-Transgender-Applicants?OpenDocument>

TODO: add other countries
=========================

